A deadly, treatment-resistant fungus that acts similarly to cancer is rapidly spreading across hospitals throughout the country as officials struggle to contain it. 

Candida Auris, a type of yeast that can survive on surfaces for long periods of time, was first detected in hospitals in 2016, with 52 infections reported across four states.

In the years since, cases have increased exponentially, with at least 7,000 people infected in 2025, according to tracking data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The CDC had already declared the fungus an ‘urgent threat’ in 2023, when 4,514 infections were detected across the country that year. 

Dr Timothy Connelly, at Memorial Health in Savannah, Georgia, told WJCL in March that being infected with the disease is similar to having cancer.

‘The fungus will just keep getting bigger and bigger, obstruct certain parts of the lungs, and can cause secondary pneumonia. Eventually, it can go on to kill people,’ he said.

C. Auris poses a particularly significant threat in hospitals, where it can colonize the skin of individuals through physical contact with contaminated medical equipment.

And the fungus is resistant to many standard disinfectants and cleaning products used in hospitals, as well as antifungal drugs, making it extremely difficult to treat. 

Because it is so treatment-resistant, people who contract the fungus must rely solely on their immune system to fight off the infection. Those who are already sick and have compromised immunity are therefore at the greatest risk. 

If the fungus infects a person’s blood through cuts or devices such as those for a breathing tube or a catheter, it is more likely to be fatal.

The CDC has estimated that 30 percent to 60 percent of people with a C. Auris infection have died, though most of them also had other serious illnesses that increased their risk of death. 

Those who have prolonged stays in the hospital or need invasive medical devices are particularly at risk of infection, doctors say.

Warning signs include a fever and chills that persist after treatment with antibiotics for a suspected bacterial infection. There may also be redness, warmth and pus at the site of infected wounds.

A study published by Cambridge University Press in July examined patients infected with C. Auris, primarily in Nevada and Florida, and determined that more than half of them required admission to an intensive care unit. 

The study also found that one-third required mechanical ventilation and that more than half needed a blood transfusion. 

The fungus’ drug resistance has made it hard to contain. More than half the states in the US have reported cases this year. 

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